Wednesday, January 16, 2008

A Simple Sugar-Free Cake

I love cake.

Being sugar-free this month has been quite a limitation for me. Yet, I'm glad Michael and I choose do this. It's a vivid reminder of how often, especially in the American culture, we satisfy ourselves with sugary foods. I think it's an undiagnosed disease in this country. We medicate ourselves with sugar. I know I do. If I've had a bad day... If I don't feel good... Even if I'm just tired... or if I'm vegging out in front of the tv... I often crave something sweet.

I've tried to wean myself off sugar this month by drinking fruit juice diluted with water or using a little honey on toasted gluten-free bread. And even occasionally indulging in a "sugar free" treat like some ice-creams, even though I really don't promote using artificial sweeteners. But it's hard for me.

On Monday, I finally caved in.

No. I didn't eat a candy bar, or a box of ice-cream... I caved in by making a "sugar-free" cake. You see, I feel like when we use artificial sweeteners, it only prolongs our cravings for sugar... but sometimes you just have to give in. I will readily admit this cake would be better with regular granulated sugar. But, it was very good with Splenda and agave nectar, and helped tremendously with that sugar craving!

I would like to try this cake using honey only (no splenda), as a honey cinnamon cake. I think it would be delicious at an afternoon tea!

I named this a "Snickerdoodle" cake, because snickerdoodles were the first cookie I ever baked as a child. I love the cinnamon in the cookies and it makes for a fabulous cake! While most of this cake has been eaten, it's been two days and is still very moist (when kept in an air-tight container) and would be excellent with a dollop of whipped cream on top for serving!

A Delightful "Snickerdoodle" Cake

Dry Ingredients

2/3 cup sorghum flour

2/3 cup brown rice flour

2/3 cup soy flour (or rice or tapioca flour)

1 1/4 cups Splenda

1 tsp. xanthan gum

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3 Tbsp. powdered milk

2 tsp. cinnamon (use less if you prefer a less spicy cake!)

Wet Ingredients

3 eggs, separated

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/2 cup fat free yogurt

4 tbsp. melted butter

1/2 - 3/4 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a bundt pan or 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray. Mix all dry ingredients together until throughly incorporated in a large bowl. In another bowl whisk egg whites until they form a stiff peak. In a medium sized bowl mix together egg yolks, vanilla, agave nectar, fat free yogurt, butter. Add in dry mixture alternately with water. Last, fold in whisked egg whites. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

NOTE: I used dry, powdered milk in this cake because I mixed the dry ingredients ahead of time to use when traveling. You can of course leave out the dry milk, and use regular milk (or condensed milk, soy, rice, or a nut milk) in place of the water called for.

14 comments:

That looks good Carrie. It's so hard giving up sugar. I have been trying the agave syrup as a replacement. Some things it works better than others. I think once you get past a couple weeks you crave sugar less.

Melanie -- It IS hard to give up sugar! I think you are right. BY the end of the month last year, I didn't crave sugar at all... this year it seems harder!

Cris -- I would use 1 cup of regular granulated sugar in place of the Splenda in this recipe! (And you could leave out the agave syrup) Let me know if you try it with the sugar! I bet it would be delicious!!

Hey Carrie,Nice cake. You could drop the splenda entirely and just use agave nectar by using some coconut flour. Works like a charm. If you want some other agave recipes, please stop by my blog, Altered Plates.

Deb... does the coconut flour have a strong coconut flavor? I steer away from anything coconut because my husband doesn't like the flavor or texture of regular coconut... but if the coconut flour didn't affect the flavor of the cake I'd be willing to try it!!

I'm always amazed at how much better I feel when I reduce my sugar intake (I've never completely gone cold turkey). I do always want something a little sweet after dinner though, and the best thing I've found to replace more sugary goodies is dried medjool dates. They're almost like candy. Thanks for visiting my blog! The Cottage Pie was great btw.

I agree 100% with your words "we satisfy ourselves with sugary foods. I think it's an undiagnosed disease in this country. We medicate ourselves with sugar." That is so so true!

You know what, I know I'm not going to be popular with passing this along but if you really want to go sugar free, check into agave nectar....I learned in the book "Sugar Shock!" that it's actually high fructose corn syrup. Honey is also sugar....sugar has many names, but it's all refined sugar.

Yeah, sugar is in almost all processed food, and of course fast food. I stay off of it by eating whole foods and get my "sugar fix" from fresh fruit like berries, bananas, and apples. Wish I could eat just a little of the white stuff but if I do, then I always want more.